- The End of Prosperity

Institution:

The Evergreen State College

Subject:

Description:

Faculty: Alan Nasser (political economy, foreign policy) Major areas of study include economics, politics, public policy, American studies, social history. Class Standing: Junior/Senior Faculty Signature: Students should submit copies of their most recent faculty evaluations and samples of their most recent nonfiction writing to Alan Nasser at the Academic Fair, November 28, 2007. Transfer students should bring unofficial transcripts and writing samples to the fair. If this is not possible, send them to Alan Nasser, The Evergreen State College, Sem II A2117, Olympia, WA 98505. Priority will be given to applications received by November 28, 2007. For more information contact Alan, (360) 867-6759. Qualified students will be accepted until the program fills. American history has seen, from its beginnings, a steady rise in most people's standards of living and economic security, and (with the exception of the 1930s Great Depression) robust economic growth. But since 1973 this has changed: the median wage has actually declined since then, economic inequality has skyrocketed, working people and students find themselves saddled with unparalleled debt, job security has never been lower since the Great Depression, students are no longer confident that they will find stimulating and well paid jobs, and economic growth has slowed remarkably. And unfortunately, many experts fear that America will never again experience the prosperity it enjoyed during what is called the "Golden Age", the years 1947-1973. What happened And are the pessimists right about our future We will examine the course of U.S. economic, political and social history since the very end of the nineteenth century. This will require us to examine the nature of the economic, political and social structures that comprise U.S. capitalism. We will view these structures as dynamic in nature, always subject to development, transformation and possible degeneration. Among the main developments we will study are the changes in the economic and social structures at the turn of the twentieth century, the emergence of large multinational conglomerate corporations in the early twentieth century, the U.S. response to the Soviet Revolution, the "roaring twenties", the Great Depression, the effects of World War II on the economy, the historically unprecedented prosperity of the Golden Age and the creation of the so-called "middle class", the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the long period of austerity that continues to this day, and the heightened aggression of U.S. foreign policy that began with the Carter presidency and coincides with the beginning of the Age of Austerity. At the same time we will read at least one major social and political history of this period. This is a demanding, advanced, bookish class devoted to close and careful analysis of our readings. Good analytical skills are presupposed. Total: 16 credits. Enrollment: 25 Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in social sciences, teaching, public policy, social services and politics. A similar program is expected to be offered in : 2008/09 This program is also listed under: Society, Politics, Behavior and Change

Credits:

16.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.evergreen.edu

Phone Number:

(360) 867-6170

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Quarter

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